Veteran Priority Registration Policy, ACT 46

Veteran Priority Registration Policy, ACT 46

Veterans Preference Registration Policy

Act 46 of 2014 requires public institutions of higher education in Pennsylvania to provide veteran students, as defined in the Act, with preference in course scheduling. Non-compliance may be reported to the Pennsylvania Department of Education by submitting the Higher Education Student Complaint form found at www.education.state.pa.us.

Effective for the spring 2015 registration period, which begins in October 2014, Bloomsburg University veteran students are given preference registration.

Veteran students (not including dependents) are defined as those students in the following categories:

• The student has served in the United States Armed Forces, including a reserve component and National Guard.
• The student was discharged or released from such service under conditions other than dishonorable.
• Active duty service members.

Veterans Course Registration Preference: Students who are given Veterans preference privileges are permitted to start registering for courses two days prior to the start of the regular registration windows as defined by the Office of the Registrar. If a student misses their initial priority registration window, the student will have another opportunity to register during their regular timetable as defined by their earned credits and continues until the add/drop period in the next semester.

Process:
Students receiving VA benefits through the university’s Office of Veteran Services will automatically be coded within the registration system to receive priority registration. Students who qualify, based on the definition provided in this policy, but are not receiving VA benefits through the university’s Office of Veteran Services must visit this office and submit proof of military status (e.g. DD214, military ID, etc.). Upon receipt of proof, students will be coded within the registration system to receive priority registration. This coding will be used to select qualifying students for priority registration. Students will be notified approximately 2 ½ weeks prior to the start of their registration period.

The registration window for veterans is assigned by the Office of the Registrar and communicated prior to the beginning of the registration period for the next semester. Veterans are sent email notification with instructions on how to access their registration windows through the Bloomsburg E-mail system. The University registration system is configured to allow course registration for students who are given preference registration privileges. Prior to being able to register, the so designated student must meet with his/her academic advisor for advisement.